Emigration to South Africa-Look before you leap!

A few cents.

I am 30 years old and spent half my life in Johannesburg and half in Cape Town.

This is an amazing country - awesome climate, lots of space, great lifestyle, nice food and restaurants, sports and more. This is what people from Europe see when they come here for short visits.

The problem is that falling in love with South Africa is like falling in love with a model who is a crack addict. You fall in love with the outside appearance, but set yourself up for a lifetime of problems.

Don't kid yourself if you move to South Africa - crime is a big problem. It's such a big problem that lots of people deal with it by pretending it doesn't exist. Speak to any South African and you'll find that either they or someone close to them has been affected by serious crime. This is not a joke, and neither is living with burglar bars, smash proof windows, high walls, electric fences, gated communities and private security companies.

As a white person living in South Africa you will also have to deal with increasing marginalisation. If you're not an entrepreneur or educated to masters level, you're going to struggle to find a job. Many government schools provide inadequate education, which means you have to fork out serious money for private school education. There are also serious problems with public transport, as owning a reliable car is essential, and SA has some of the highest car prices in the world.

Generally it is the wealthy who benefit most from this country, and often this benefit both moderates and perpetuates the suffering of the country's inhabitants. Many black people work in jobs offering them between $200 and $500 per month, with little chance of advancement. Many also live in devastating poverty in urban townships, where life is often worth less than a cellphone.

If you're wealthy and commited to improving this country, it's probably a great thing to move here. But keep something in mind, there is a cost to moving here, and you'll spend your life trying to come to terms with a deeply dysfunctional country.

Thanks for your honesty. It describes the predicament of many whites whose lives have been heading steadily South for the last 10 years. Many whites are only able to deal with the pressure to earn money buy working overseas for 6 month periods and bringing the money back to South Africa.

Hi there. I have a job interview at a school in Welkom, Free State next month for a post of Deputy Head at an independent school. The school looks really nice and like somewhere where I could happily work. I do have lots of questions though that need answering so that I can make an informed decision of I'm offered the job.

Firstly, unlike here in the UK the salary isn't identified on the advert and I have been told that it is negociable. Would anyone be able to let me know what sort of salary such a position might attract? I've checked out the rates in the state sector and I assume the private sector pays significnatly more?

Secondly, I have no idea what Welkom, or the surrounding area is like. I am married to a Zambian and our son is mixed race and thus I have some concerns about moving to an area in SA where things have not changed much since the Apartheid era! One friend of mine as told me that Welkom is 'deeply conservative' which is code for racist - is this the case? If it is are there more tolerant locations within a 30km radius?

Thirdly, I am assuming that security issues will not be as prevelant in Welkom as in places like Jo'burg or Pretoria but this is just guesswork.

I have spent a few years living in Botswana and have encountered the downside to life in Southern Africa although fortunately I have never been the victim of violent crime. I am excited by the prospect of returning to a wonderful part of the world and to a lifestyle that I loved but before my family make such a big decision we need to be well informed!

All advice is welcome!

In response to the topic Return of the natives dated Jan 28, I found that some of the issues were totally unfounded and controversial . First of all Zimbabweans and Nigerians are not 'new immigrants' to South Africa. I know there has been a surge of immigrants from these co,untries but they being Africans living in Mamaland cannot be classified as 'New immigrants'. These people have always been there since the apartheid era and some of their statesman helped us through the dark times. Yes there are some who are illegal and I must say corruption and ill gorvenance are to blame for this . I blame our government for being unable to sort this mess and for failing to return the favour and working together with the Zimbabwean government solve their problems. The thread led me to believe that this view posted of my fellow Africans and I say this because I view every African as a brother (black or white) was motivated purely by selfish reasons. I have lived with some well educated and uneducated Zimbabweans who by the way were not illegal immigrants and I dont think its fair to generalise and for you to to decide how we deal with some of our brothers. If you want to come to South Africa you are welcome but we would appreciate it if you didnt meddle with Africans, affairs if you really wanted to we would suggest you gey your facts right and suggest some solutions to benefit all of Africa for 'SOUTH AFRICA IS NOT AN ISLAND it is a part of AFRICA'. Again we welcome everybody to our country who intends to contribute something positive and not cause unnecessary division amongst people. South Africa is a lovely country it does have its issues but then again which country doesnt. We hope our government will work hard to sort them out especially with the world cup coming

Talking about racism in South Africa? It has only been how many years 15 years since the release of Nelson Mandela. I am currently in the UK and my son ( a coloured) was called a negro by a classmate. Is that not racism in a country where this apparently does not exist. Yeah right. South Africa is doing great and and is a country to be reckoned with. Do not judge a book by its cover. I for one am proud of the very same person Nelson Mandela who endured so much during the apartheid years and still came out smiling with no grudge. He just wanted to make a difference. I think people who don't have anything nice to stay about South Africa should just keep their comments to themselves are shuf it where the sun does not shine

Undoubtedly South Africa offers surreal natural beauty, a vibrant mix of cultures and probably the best climate in the world but to adequately judge whether one would be able to PERMANENTLY live here other factors need to be considered as well.

Much has changed since 1994 in South Africa for both black and white. Mostly positive. The greatest challenges the country face at this time is the widening gap between the rich and poor, unemployment and crime.

The levels of crime can be explained to an extent by the level of unemployment and subsequent poverty. What cannot be explained is the brutal nature of crime in South Africa. To me this is a very serious issue. I intend to have children one day. I do not want them to witness what I've seen in my life so far. 85 year old farmer, hands tied behind his back, hung from a rope in his outbuilding, body covered with machete hackmarks, burns and bruises. He was tortured and finally killed with a single shot to the head. The perpitrators were not caught.

I can give further examples but won't.

This is something we are exposed to each day. Previous participants to this post are angered by the perceived negativity of people such as myself that merely communicate the current situation in South Africa.

The question I have for them is the following:

Where have you been the last 15 years?

South Africa is not for the faint hearted. I'm sticking it out here due to the fact that my family has been here for 10 generations, this is where I belong!

I am a WHITE AFRICAN

Cheers for that! So refreshing :-)
I am returning to SA after a 9 year traveling stint.
I am dismayed at the concerns of my colleagues and friends. They really have no idea!
Yes, the crime is rife. Just be aware and don't be silly.
I lived in London for 6 years, and almost everyone I met had been affected by crime in one way or another. Some were seriously assaulted.Not to mention the number of bikes my brother had pinched. He was a courier, and those bikes were his livelihood. I myself, suffered a burglary in Maida Vale in London.
All I can do is invite the naive over for a holiday to see the beauty and hospitality of a rainbow nation, and of course, the big five, for themselves.
Also wanted to thank Annetta in Durban for the Kloof / Hillcrest advice. My Dad lives in Hibberdene, and I need to be close to him and near a city for work.
Take care everyone, and give our lovely country a chance
Jules

Don't move to SA! I doubt Colin even lives there or has been there. Click on the links below to some Youtube footage about what EVERY day life has become for ALL South Africans, white, black, and coloured.

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this one shows the safety & security minister telling south africans to stop complaining about crime or leave the country!!!!!!

There are tons more youtube clips about what every day life has become in SA. Don't move there!

I wish the people the very best, but corrupt politicians stand in the way of SA becoming what it once was and can be versus what it has become and what it will further become!

hi there we are thinking of emigrating from the uk to work in south africa i actually grew up there from 1972 to 1984 when i returned to the uk due to serious illnesss with my father,i met my present wife and progressed to being a train driver here in uk,i believe alot has changed since i returned to the uk and i am wanting to return can you tell me any companies that employ train drivers and if there is a demand for them ,i am also willing to go into other employment as long as i can survive on the wages ,hope you can assist me many thanks take car gary lemmon

Hello Robankat,

I did indeed enjoy your post, now that you are back in South Africa, how has it all turned out?

Congratulations on the babs

kerry